Now, Miss America candidates have been known to say some pretty dumb things. Miss Teen South Carolina, for example.
However, this statement has quite a few issues with it. The first and most important one to me is the close-mindedness many of them show towards religion. Although they say that all should be taught, this is a very clouded position to hold. When you say "all" do you really mean all? You mean every form of religion available and practiced? Catholicism, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, ect? And what about the religions seen as madness by most, for example the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster? (And, yes, this does exist. Google it.) Do you also want to include scientific theories that are considered nonsensical? For example, the belief that we live in a computer game. There are people (usually considered to be conspiracy theorists) who believe that we are in a simulated world. Are you suggesting that we teach this as well? On a less ridiculous scale, should hypnotism (seen both as fact and as made-up) be taught in schools?
Basically, what I'm trying to say is that we should not be teaching religion as fact in any public school setting. It doesn't matter what you believe, school is paid for by the state and we all know that church and state are separate. Another issue with that statement is the assumption that there are two sides to the argument. There are infinite opinions, so you can't limit the "sides" to just creationism and evolution.
I suppose the next problem to look at is the fact that this is a question at all. What is taught in school is NOT a moral issue and beliefs such as religion should never be brought up. Never. And before anyone goes thinking "Oh, well evolution is a theory and therefore not fact," to you I say, yes. So is gravity. Everything is a theory. That's science.
There were a few quotes that stood out to me. For example, Miss Indiana said
I think we should leave that up to the government. I'm not sure. I think a lot of people would have issues if evolution was taught in school, I think we should just leave that out of the equation.This is just... Leave it out of the equation? Leave the entirety of the evolutionary theory, including natural selection which is very important for understanding animal and human behaviors, out of the equation? Or do you just mean you don't want to give an answer that will reflect negatively on you as a Miss America candidate? And might I point out that our government is controlled entirely by people like you. Yes, you do trust them to take care of your country and make certain decisions so you don't have to, but that doesn't mean you should hold no opinion on it!
Now, Miss Kentucky really blew me away, here.
I honestly don't think you can ever have too much knowledge on any subject. That's my personal view, but I do feel that evolution shouldn't be taught in school just because there's so many different views on it. So many different definitions on it. Like, how do you teach a child the true meaning of evolution when so many different cultures have their different beliefs. Sciences have their different theories. It's just not a good subject that I feel everyone will agree on in classrooms when kids come from all different backgrounds, different cultures, different beliefs so I just personally don't think it's a good topic for a school subject. At all.So what you're saying is that you can't ever learn too much, but it's better if you didn't learn things that could be controversial. Do I even have to explain why that makes no sense?
The more learning you can get, the more educated you are and the more educated you are the better you come off.Oh, alright Miss Massachusetts. So it's all about how others perceive you, then? I see.
I have like 30 good quotes I could reference and discuss, but... I just don't want to. All I know is that my kids will certainly be learning about evolution and they'd better not be taught religion in any public school unless as an elective that they chose in an unbiased learning environment. There are churches and private schools for religious discussions and preachings. I'd prefer the lines didn't cross.
Video in question:
Parody video by ZOMGitsCriss (note: I did not watch this until after writing this blog as I did not want other opinions to vary my reaction) :
BLARGH! This debate makes me so angry! Evolution is a scientific theory accepted by most of the scientific community as FACT. And to all those people who say it's just a "theory," gravity is technically just a scientific "theory." As is almost everything else most people consider fact.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the late response on this one. Perhaps......we should just teach more critical thinking. A "fact" is just something someone accepts as true. Scientists accept facts that sometimes they should not based upon personal bias or current paradigms when they shouldn't. Critical thinkers find just as many problems today with scientist as the religious (maybe not as much). Theories that are accepted as fact with no evidence is faith....(aka wishful thinking). Theories that have corrupted data (pick your poison of logical facilities that made this happen)and accepted as fact by scientists are just as bad. Critical thinking is the monster that science must bow and answer to. Critical thinking is the reason scientists have a method they must follow (which is still flawed). It would teach people to suspend judgment until things are clear (not to mention keeping us from making countless mistakes in our everyday lives). Just a thought.
Deletethis was scary much just like my conversations with some friends last time i was out. it being that some believe in Christianity and the others are muslims, and me a atheist, so when the alcohol starts flowing the conversation can get some what loud
ReplyDeleteAnd btw a very nice post we so need alot more pepole thinking like you :)
ReplyDeletePfft, I'd like to see them try and teach "both sides" of ANY issue. Let's stop teaching maths because I don't like it. It doesn't matter if it's the closest thing we have to fact, some people are too irrational and stuck in their ways to believe in science.
ReplyDeleteUgh. I almost want to do a post on this now.
I think, of course, you're not going to teach kids about ALL the existent religions and beliefs, but you do have to give a general idea of the most important ones, so that they can have parameters and points of comparison, and so they can build up their own criteria. That's why people study education careers, so that they can have bases to kind of weigh out what is important to teach to kids about religion and beliefs. Kids already will have a certain kind of spiritual or religious or non-religious education at their own homes, whatever is taught on school will only serve to open their minds a little, but generally what your parents teach you is what sticks the most to you and your acts, (me talking from my own experience). Then, as you grow up, you might grab these bits of information that were given to you as a kid, and if you're interested, you start investigating, and change your points of view.
ReplyDeleteI think, though, that nothing should be taught as an actual FACT, not even evolution should be a fact, as gravity isn't a fact...Whenever you take any knowledge for real truth you leave no space for learning, and for new information to come into your brain. When your glass is filled, there's no space for more water.
I only know that I know nothing! :)
Thanks for sharing your opinion with all of us.